West Bromwich Albion will pay tribute to broadcaster and Baggies fan Nigel Pearson by naming the gantry at The Hawthorns after the respected radio and television commentator.
Pearson passed away suddenly in April at the age of just 52 and the club has since been in consultation with Nigel’s family to arrange a permanent tribute to a much-loved colleague and friend.
The Nigel Pearson Broadcast Gantry will serve as a lasting memorial which wife Kerrie, daughter Sarah, and sons Jake and Liam, will be free to visit in the future.
A private ceremony will be held prior to Albion’s pre-season friendly against Hertha Berlin on Saturday, with Nigel’s friends, family and sports media colleagues in attendance.
Kerrie, Jake and Liam received a tour of the club’s training ground earlier this week, before meeting Manager Steve Bruce.
Nigel’s wife, Kerrie, said: “As a family we are extremely proud that the gantry will be named after Nige. He loved it when talkSPORT “sent him” on the long journey to his beloved Albion.
“His dad, Dave, first took him as a child and he carried this on and took our son, Liam, whenever he had the opportunity.
“He would be humbled to have an area of The Hawthorns named after him and I can just imagine his face now if he walked through and could see the signs.
“We will be forever grateful to the club.”
Albion’s Director of Communications, Ian Skidmore, added: “Nige is greatly missed by his friends in the communications department, and the club felt it would be fitting to install a permanent tribute to him at The Hawthorns.
“He spent a large period of his life commentating for numerous broadcasters from our gantry and we believe it is only right that it will now forever carry his name.
“It will also serve as a space Nige’s family can visit in the future, and they will always be made to feel very welcome.”